[OPINION] Katherine's death calls for women’s reproductive health in pandemic

The death of a young woman named Katherine Bulatao a few weeks ago highlights the need for more work to enable women and girls to protect and enjoy their sexual and reproductive health and rights, as guaranteed under the Philippine Constitution, the Magna Carta for Women, and the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination against Women – among other laws governing our people, as well as ethical and moral principles that must be universally upheld and applied.

Katherine gave birth at her home in Caloocan City. However, the midwife who attended to her delivery advised that Katherine be brought to a hospital because of her continued bleeding after the baby was born. She was refused admission and care by 6 hospitals. She was declared dead on arrival by the time she arrived at the seventh hospital. One hospital which refused Katherine’s admission was reported to have done so because it had no available blood supply for transfusion.

All hospitals, particularly in our geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, should be able to use misoprostol or manual vacuum aspiration to save women's lives. As many pregnant women still choose deliver at home, more so during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, it is important that the government is able to provide alternative methods which are both safe and effective for treating any pregnancy-related complications.

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